Executives with the DeCoster egg operation say they can't explain why problems kept cropping up at their operations, first in Maine, then Maryland and now Iowa

September 22, 2010|By Andrew Zajac, Tribune Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — — Lawmakers made little progress Wednesday in figuring out what caused the salmonella outbreak as they questioned the owners of two Iowa egg farms linked to more than 1,500 salmonella illnesses this summer.

Austin "Jack" DeCoster, the owner of Wright County Egg, said in a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing Wednesday that explaining what went wrong was "complicated."

Asked repeatedly how he and his son, Peter, who is the company's chief executive, could have so many problems after being cited multiple times over the years for a variety of health and sanitation violations, both responded by listing steps taken to clean up after specific problems were cited by regulators. But they couldn't explain why problems kept cropping up at their operations.

Peter DeCoster disputed some of the Food and Drug Administration's findings in an inspection following the start of the egg recall Aug. 13.

The FDA found a lengthy list of filthy conditions, including rodent holes, liquid manure streaming through holes and dead birds and maggots in the chicken houses.

Regarding the observation that a manure pile had grown so big that it pushed open a door, Peter DeCoster said there were "only four doors like that out of 29" in the facility.

Orland Bethel, the chief executive of Hillandale Farms, cited his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and declined to answer any questions.

Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms recalled about 550 million eggs in August after tests of products turned up potentially positive signs of salmonella enteritidis.

Following the testimony from the DeCosters, FDA Deputy Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein said the agency found serious problems with pest control and manure handling when inspectors went to the family's facilities. Those problems, he said, could have contributed to the spread of salmonella within the facility.

Although the DeCosters identified contaminated feed as a likely culprit for the outbreak, Sharfstein said the FDA wasn't ready to point to a single source for the problem.

"We believe there are multiple potential sources of salmonella enteritidis on these farms," Sharfstein said.

Sharfstein said a new rule governing egg production, which took effect July 9, would make it easier to hold egg producers accountable. He said the rule, which sets standards for rodent and manure control and refrigeration, already had helped improve the facilities.

Sharfstein urged the passage of the food safety bill that would give the agency additional authority to recall tainted products and require more inspections of food-processing facilities.